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Guest Post: Julianne Snow #SummerofZombie

I have been reading Zombie literature for quite some time. It makes sense though; I love anything to do with them. I’ve been thinking for quite some time about the Zombie literature that has influenced me and I ended up coming up with a relatively short list in comparison to the troves of treasures out in the world.

The first book that really made me realize that Zombies had invaded the pages of literature was Herbert West – Reanimator by HP Lovecraft. It is something I read in high school and it opened my eyes to a whole new realm of horror literature. I had been watching Zombies for quite some time but I hadn’t really read that much about them. Nor had I really even looked, to be honest. I had my favorite authors already firmly entrenched and while I read books from other authors, my favorites kept me busy. When I stumbled across it, though, I found that Lovecraft has such a specific style in what he writes. Even with the simplest words, he can strike a chord of fear deep down inside. If you haven’t read it yet, I suggest you get to it!

One of the next books that I read was Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. While not a traditional Zombie story, it has all of the requisite elements. It was a piece of work that helped me understand a Zombie story can take on any form that you really want it to. The circumstances are totally up to you and you can take the story in any direction as long as you have those requisite elements of undeath and fear. What makes Frankenstein even more amazing is the lasting effect that is has on readers close to two hundred years later. Just think – Mary was only eighteen when she started writing it. Eighteen!

David Wellington’s first book in his Monster trilogy, Monster Island introduced me to the concept of a serial novel. (For those of you that are unfamiliar with what a serial novel is, it’s a way of presenting a larger story in manageable chunks. The format drives interest and can develop quite the following that all wait for the next installment to be delivered to them via different and expanding mediums.) Monster Island is a magnificent story and another great take on the genre as a whole. It was absolutely encouraging to come to the realization that serial novels presented first on the internet can and do get published. If you have yet to read the series, I suggest that you pick it up – there are moments that will chill you to the bone and make you fear some of the aspects of our world.

The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks – who doesn’t love this book? Many tout this tome as a how-to book for survival in a world full of the Undead, but it’s so much more than that. Inside is not only a guide for survival but there is a brilliant story that those tips weave around. If you consider yourself an aficionado and you don’t have this one, may I suggest picking up a copy and making your collection complete? A definite must-read for lovers of the genre!

The last book that I want to talk about is probably going to raise a few eyebrows. Cell by Stephen King is one of those books that you either loved or hated. Most people that I have discussed Zombie Lit with said that Cell was a story that started off so well, but then… Stephen King has a way with words – there is no question about that. It was an interesting take on the Zombie genre and I have to give kudos to King for coming up with an original concept. The reason that so many people are torn on their admiration for the book is the ending. I am firmly entrenched on the side of the fence that enjoyed the book. I even learned a little something – there are just as many consequences as there are benefits to extreme character development in a Zombie or Post-Apocalyptic story. Check it out if you haven’t already, I found it to be one of his better reads.

So there you have it. I have given you top five examples of Zombie Lit that have helped to shape my own writing styles and skills. If you’ve never read a Zombie story, what are you waiting for?

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Julianne Snow is the author of the Days with the Undead series and Glimpses of the Undead. She is the founder of Zombieholics Anonymous and the Co-Founder and Publicist at Sirens Call Publications. Writing in the realms of speculative fiction, Julianne has roots that go deep into horror and is a member of the Horror Writers Association. With pieces of short fiction in various publications, Julianne always has a few surprises up her sleeves. Be sure to check out The Carnival 13, a collaborative round-robin novella for charity which she contributed to and helped to spearhead which was released in October 2013.